The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-16

Il should only be done as . Temporary expedicns
to meet an urgent necessity. Legislative and
executive effort should generally be in the op.
posiie direction and should have tendency TO
divorce. rs much and rs fast as can safely be
done, the Treasury Department from private
enterprise.
OF course II Is not expected that unnecessary
and extrayagant appropriations will be made for
the purpose OF avoiding the accumulation OF an
excess OF revenue. Such expenditure. besides
the decentralization of all just conceptions OF
public duty which it entails, stimulates habit
Of reckless improvidence not In the least con-
sistent with the mission OF our people or the
high and bencficent ideas OF our Government.
Ihave deemed 1t my duty to thus bring to the
knowledge of my countrymen rs well as to the
attention OF their representatives charged with
the responsibility Of Legislative relief the grav-
ity Of our financial situation. The failure OF
Congress heretofore to provide against the
dangers which il was quite evident the very
nature Of the difficulty must necessarily pro-
duce, caused q condition Of financial distress
and apprehension since your last adjournment
which taxed to the utmost all the authority
and expedients within executive control; AMI
these appear now to be exhausted.
II disaster results from the continued mac
ton of Congress, the responsibility must rest
where il belongs.
Though the situation thus Ear considered Is
fraught with danger which should be fully real
lied, and though it presents feature OF wrong
to the people as well as peril to the country, it
is but q result growing out OF perfect and ap-
parent cause. constantly reproducing the same
alarming c.rcumstances-a congested National
treasury and depleted monetary condition in
the business OF the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation demands
n remedy. we can only be saved from like pre-
dicamcnt in the future BY the removal OF its
cause.
Our scheme Of taxation, b. means OF which
this needless surplus is taken from the people
and put into the public treasury, consists OF o
tariff or duty levied upon importations from
abroad and internal revenue taxes levied upon
the consumption OF tobacco and spirituOus and
malt liquors. 1t must be conceded that none
of the things subjected to internal revenue tax
alton are, strictly speaking. neccssarics. There
appears to be no just complaint of this taxation
by the consumers OF these articles, and there
seems to be nothing so well able to bear the
burden without hardship to any portion Of the
people.
But our present tariff laws, the vicious, in
equitable and illogical source Of unnecessary
taxation. ought TO be at once revised and
amended These laws as their primary and
plain effort raise the price to consumers OF al
articles imported and subject to duty By pre-
cisely the sum paid for such duties. Thus the
amount OF the duties measures the tax paid by
those who purchase for use these imported
articles.
Many OF these things, however, are raised Of
manufactured in our own country. and the du
ties now levied upon foreign goods and products
are called protection to these home manufac
lures, because they render it possible for those
OF our people who are manufacturers to make
these taxed articles and sell them for price
equal to that demanded for the imported good.
that have paid customs duty. So 1t happens
that while comparatively a few use the import
ed articles, millions Of our people. who never
use and never saw any OF the foreign products
purchase AID use things of the same kind made
| in this country and pay therefor nearly or quite
the same enhanced price which the duty adds
| to the imported articles.
Those who buy imports pay the duty charged
thereon into the public treasury. but the grea
majority OF our citizens, who buy domestic ar
| tic,es of the same class, pay u sum 1T least ap
proximately equal to this duty to the hom'
manufacturer. This reference to the operation
| of our tariff laws is not made by way OF instruc
| ton. but in order that We may be CONSTANT!
reminded OF the manner in which they impose
burden upon those who consume domestic prod
| ucts as well as those who consume importer
| articles, and thus create q tax upon all on
people
1
| try OF this taxation. 1t must be cxtensvel
continued as the source OF the Government
\ income and in a readjustment OF our tariff tn
| interests Of American labor engaged in manu-
| facture should be carefully considered. as wei
| as the preservation Of our manufacturers. l
may he called protection, or by any other name
| but relief from the hardships and dangers O
! our present tariff law should be devised wit
| especial precautiol against imperiling the ex
/ nj Misunderstanding interests HI
| this existence should not mean condition
| which, without regard to the public welfare o
National exigcncy, must always insure tn
realization Of immense profits instead Of mode
rately profitable returns.
As the volume and diversity OF our Na.iona
| activities increase. new recruits arc added I
| those who desire n continuance OF the advar
tages which they conceive the present.system @
tariff taxation directly effects. So stubborn
have ali efforts to reduce the present conditio
been resisted by those Of our fellow-citizen
thus engaged. that they can hardly complain G
the suspicion. entertained to q certain extent
that there existed an organized combination a
along the line to maintain their advantage.
We are in the middle Of centennial ceiebra
lions. and with becoming pride we rejoice
American skill and ingenuity, in American CT
ergy ard enterprise, and in the wonderft
natural advantages and resources developed
a century's National growth. Yet when an N
tempt is made to justify o scheme which PEE
mits tax to be laid upon every consumer in III
land for the benefit OF our manufacturers quit
beyond a reasonable demand for Goycrnmer
| regard. it suits the purposes Of advocacy to ca
, our manufactures infant industries, still nee,
ing the highest degree Of favor and fosterin
care that can be wrung from Federal legisl
| ton.
1t is also said that the increase in the priC
, OF domestic manufactures resulting from III
present tariff is necessary in order that high,
, wages may be paid to our workingmcn cr
, p.oyed in manufactures than are paid for VIII;
, is called the pauper labor of Europe. All wi
acknowledge the force of an argument whis
involves the welfare and liberal compensate
2 of our workingmcn. Labor is honorable in II
eyes OF every American citizen; and as It Ii,
t ut the foundation OF our developers
e and progress, it is entitled, witho1
3 arectation or hypocrisy. to the u
a most regard. The standard Of our laborer
: life should not be measured by that OF any otn'
country less favored. and they are entitled
D their full share of our advantages.
BY the last census it is made to appear tlr
: of the l1.39..C99 of our population is engaged
: all kinds OF industries. 7,6s0.+93 are employe
: in agriculture, 4,M4,23S in professional ar
S personal service, C,3I,S7o OF whom are d
2 nestle servants and laborers.) while 1.s10,2
, are employed in trade and transportation, or
! 1885,, LIZ are c!assed rs employed in manuia
turing and mining.
For present purposes, however. the last nur
Der given should be considerably reduce
Without attempting to enumerate all. it will
conceded that there should be deducted fro
those which it includes, So, l43 carpenters an
i jo:ners. 2S5 401 millincrs, dresSmaSers ar
seamstres-es. 112125 blacl.smithS, 49,, 1JS tai
ors aad tailoresses. l82.4s3 masons, s6.:i1 butte
ers I'll, 800 bakers. 23.0Ss plaste-crs, 4,s9l e
gagged in manufacturing agricultural impl
, ments, amounting in the aggregate to l,sli
OBJ, leaving 26sss,0Ss persons employed
such manufacturing industries rs are claimed
/ be benefited by . high tariff. To these the a